Hello and welcome back to Five Things I Ate! This week, we continue our journey to the Greek island of Paros, which may have been my favorite. Read past posts here, and please follow my Instagram, @fivethingsiate, where you can find photos of this week’s recommendations.
Freddo Cappuccino at Cultivos Coffee
Port of, Paros 844 00, Greece. Instagram, in case you’re stuck in the States.
It’s been more than two weeks since I came home from a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to the Greek islands and I’m definitely going through some freddo cappuccino withdrawal. I tried to recreate it at home, but it’s honestly not the same. Nothing tastes as good as vacation feels, but at least writing about it makes it last a little longer. Something I have learned about cappuccino freddos as a temporary expert is that this drink isn’t really about the finest beans or pull of espresso. All the Greeks I spoke to explicitly emphasized how the freddo is the antidote to Italian snobbery – it’s meant to be enjoyed, with plenty of sugar, and milk, masking any bitter notes. That being said, the freddo at Cultivos was one of my favorites (and boy, I drank many), precisely because I could taste how good the espresso was underneath all that foam. If only I could take this home as a souvenir.
Prawns in saffron sauce at Sigi Ikthios
Limanaki Naousa, Naousa 844 01, Greece
Naousa was honestly one of my favorite places we went to on our whole trip to the Greek islands, and I had no idea about it going in at all. Mykonos might get all the fame for parties, and Santorini is for lovers, but as for me, a human cat, I could spend a whole week wandering the little cobblestone alleys in this charming fishing village, with music going late into the night, and freshly caught octopus hanging off the decks of fishing boats in the morning. We were told that Sigi Ikthios (which apparently means “the silence of the fish) was the place to eat, and judging by how many tiny tables were crammed onto the promenade with diners, it appears to be the case. Still, it was very much worth the hype. We were seated at a little wooden table just a few steps away from the fishing boats on the harbor, where two little boys sat on a wooden plank, threatening to push the other in. The seafood was so fresh, you might as well fall into the harbor. My favorite were the prawns – served head-on, in a rich, buttery golden-yellow saffron sauce. The server recommended I dip fries into it, and I sure did.
Loukoumades with milk and white chocolate and ice cream at Λουκουμάδες Το Παραδοσιακό
Unnamed Road, Naousa 844 01, Greece
I’m not even going to try to pronounce the name of this loukoumades shop. Thankfully, I don’t need to – you’ll be able to find it by the line wrapping around the block. These donuts are as fresh, and authentic, as you can get. This place sells one thing, and one thing only – loukoumades – and you can choose from three toppings – cinnamon & honey, chocolate, or white chocolate (plus ice cream). We went with both types of chocolate sauce, plus a scoop of ice cream. Sure, the freshly fried dough was delicious, but what really blew me away was the ice cream– a scoop of vanilla so eggy and dense, I wish they let me just get a cone.
Acai bowl at Christo Gastro Bar
Άγιος Δημήτριος, Naousa 844 01, Greece
After staying out late at night eating at Sigi Ikthios, it was like coming back to a totally different town when we returned the next morning. The harbor, filled with loud music at night, was now filled with little fishing boats boasting the fresh catches of the day. Walking past Christo Gastro Bar, I saw a sliver of blue ocean – and immediately wanted to eat there. We sat in the back, just a few steps away from the water. I didn’t have any expectations for the food (just vibes), so it was a really pleasant surprise that the brunch was outstanding. Whenever I travel, I crave an acai bowl, because it feels like such a treat that I would never get at home, and this one was excellent.
Greek salad at Sweet Smelling Kitchen
ΧΩΡΙΟ ΛΕΥΚΕΣ Τ.Θ. 50104, Paros 844 00, Greece
Sweet Smelling Kitchen is worth a trip on its own. Located in the historic, and hilly, village of Lefkés, this is not just a restaurant, it’s a Greek grandma inviting you into her home. You sit on the back terrace (where said grandma handed some frightened Australian tourists a jumbo-sized bug swatter for the giant hornet that popped by for a visit), and wait for her to come out with food from the kitchen inside the house. The menu is simple – you can choose from salad, the homemade pie of the day, and fresh pasta. We got one of all three. I ate so much of the salad that I hardly had room for pie or pasta, although I’m sure I could write about them both. I don’t know how something so simple could taste so fantastic – and be utterly unreplicable at home, even when I spend $50 sourcing organic ingredients at Whole Foods.
XOXO,
Soph
P.S. For photo references of this week’s ‘letter, check out my Instagram.
P.P.S. This is the second post in my series on traveling in Greece. Missed last week’s post on Athens? Read it here.